East Feliciana counting on do-it-all standout Eubanks

CLINTON - East Feliciana High School coach Cedric Anderson has a well-known quarterback returning in junior Kendell Beckwith.

However, the play of another Tiger who used to play quarterback may be significant.

Ellis Eubanks was the starting quarterback at Jackson for two seasons before Clinton and Jackson consolidated before the 2010-11 school year.

Now Eubanks has become a jack-of-trades who could see time as a running back, receiver and a defensive back as ESHS, a Class 2A semifinalist a year ago, moves up to Class 3A.

“We have some key guys back, but there are also some positions where we need guys to step in,” Anderson said. “Ellis is important for us because he can do so many different things.”

Eubanks, Tyler Armstead and Timothy Scott are among the players who may split time as Anderson attempts to replace four-year starter Joseph Robinson, a 1,000-yard rusher. Armstead missed much of last season with a leg injury.

Anderson said the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Eubanks has another distinction: an early scholarship offer from North Texas.

Working the system

Scotlandville second-year coach Ken Hilton said his team is not only a year older, but also a year wiser footballwise.

“I just think everybody understands the system we’re running and the things we want to do so much better,” Hilton said. “When we line up, there’s no doubt, they just execute. Everybody is more comfortable out there and it shows.”

And when Hilton says everybody, he can count a much larger number than last year.

Class 5A Scotlandville currently has 80 players in grades nine through 12. That number doesn’t include players still getting physical exams finalized.

Looking to capitalize on the growth and enthusiasm, Scotlandville will host a Fan Day at its stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“When it’s all said and done, we may have to buy more equipment to get everybody suited out,” Hilton said. “That’s a nice problem to have.”

“It may be tough for a while as they learn. You have to say the future looks bright.”

It takes tempo

The Dunham School’s first-year head football coach Guy Mistretta is pleased with the way the Tigers have bought into a system. Now Mistretta, who previously coached at Redemptorist, wants the Tigers to get faster at it.